Tyrant Sky Martial Soul

Chapter 1055: Chapter 1055: Countless Casualties

The Ancient Gourd Vine Martial Spirit, in combination with the Ancient Natural Dragon Martial Spirit, along with Lan Yu’er’s rejuvenating hands, should mean that Ji Ning won’t have any major problems now.

”Report the number of casualties?”

”The Northern Desert Army suffered close to two thousand deaths, the Imperial City Camp suffered over seventy thousand!”

”How many?”

Ling Xiao simply couldn’t believe this number.

The Expedition Army formed by the Imperial City Camp had only brought a total of eighty thousand this time, and seventy thousand had died in this battle.

”It’s seventy thousand, correct! Si Kong Zun that bastard forcibly ordered the troops to pursue us, resulting in being surrounded by the Black Crow Army. It was only because Lu Chenlong and Feng Qingyan noticed in time and forcibly led the troops to retreat that less than ten thousand were saved.”

”Si Kong Zun, you dog!”

Ling Xiao clenched his teeth fiercely, if it weren’t for his early arrangements today, getting rescued by Dark Stinger from the Northern Desert Pass, he’d probably have already died at the hands of Si Kong Zun’s subordinates.

Over seventy thousand men lost in the blink of an eye—it would cause anyone who heard it to tremble with fear.

”Where have Feng Qingyan and the others retreated to?”

”They’ve gone to Northern Desert Pass, Si Kong Zun is back there too. It’s relatively safe for now. It seems that the Black Crow Army is only surrounding them and not attacking, set on mainly attacking our Northern Desert City.”

Ling Xiao looked up toward the distance; the sky was gradually brightening. After a night of battle, bodies were strewn everywhere.

Of course, the majority of the dead were soldiers from the Phoenix God Empire.

Those charred corpses were enough to make one’s scalp tingle.

”The Great General has handed temporary command over to me, will you accept this?”

Ling Xiao felt he should take on this responsibility.

With Ji Ning now unconscious and unable to command this war, although his own abilities were modest, he was fortunate to have generals like Zhu Ge Ming, Qin Huo, Li Ruguang, and Zhang Yu Fei by his side to assist, and he should not be too far off the mark.

”We accept!”

Ling Xiao had saved Ji Ning and helped them cover their retreat; these actions alone were enough to win their willing obedience.

”Good, Li Ruguang, Zhang Yu Fei, Zhu Ge Ming, you each have your own duties to perform. Ensure the city is well-defended, and without my orders, no one is allowed to leave the city to meet the enemy.”

Ling Xiao took a deep breath; he could only bite the bullet and go ahead now, relying on the strange memories in his mind to solve problems and fight this battle.

”Understood!”

”Qin Huo, first hand the Heavenly Wolf Knights over to Meng Tong to lead. Act as my temporary adjutant to assist me.”

Among these men, only Qin Huo had truly commanded a large army before, once holding a position in the Heavenly Dragon Continent not inferior to Ji Ning’s.

So making him an adjutant was also something Ling Xiao had thought through in advance.

After all, too many lives were at stake, and there was no room for carelessness.

Northern Desert City had become their final stronghold, and the mere remaining thirty thousand soldiers in the city, along with the hundreds of thousands of civilians, were their last line of support.

There were no roads left to retreat.

Of course, with the Array Formation upgrades and modifications to Northern Desert City, the Black Crow Empire’s army wouldn’t dare to launch a general attack so easily.

Otherwise, they would risk incurring too heavy a loss.

More than a million people, and perhaps less than half would survive in the end.

This was the last desperate strategy; given the arrogance of Timmerman Muto and Little Prince Jiumo Zhiyan, they likely wouldn’t act so rashly.

Outside the range of the defensive formation’s attack, a figure rode atop a Black Crow Beast donned in black armor, looking valiant and extraordinary.

His face was somewhat pale.

But those sharp eyes radiated shrewdness and wisdom.

It was a gaze befitting a king.

Without doubt, this man was the Black Crow Empire’s Little Prince, Jiumo Zhiyan.

And sitting beside him on another Black Crow Beast, the man exuding an overwhelming presence, was Timmerman Muto, this prince’s mentor and a pillar of the Black Crow Empire.

”Ji Ning is dead, will you not surrender quickly?”

Jiumo Zhiyan’s voice was loud. Even though it wasn’t very loud, everyone could hear it clearly.

This was the effect of the profound inner strength that Martial Artists could produce.

”Don’t say the Great General is dead, even if he really died in battle, we would fight to the last soldier in Northern Desert City. We would absolutely not let the iron hooves of your Black Crow Empire tread even half a step over!”

Ling Xiao’s robust voice also rose, similarly not very loud, yet everyone could hear it.

Now he was the commander of the army, the hope of a whole city.

His responsibilities had grown, and so he had become more solemn.

”Ling Xiao? Haha, although you have recently gained fame in the Divine Phoenix Empire, you are after all just a mere warrior, and moreover, your cultivation level is only in the Six Arts Realm. If Ji Ning were not dead, why would he leave Northern Desert City in the hands of a green boy like you?”

Jiumo Zhiyan sat on his Black Crow Beast, smiling at Ling Xiao. Based on his conjecture, even if Ji Ning wasn’t dead, he must be gravely injured and unconscious.

This was the best opportunity to strike at Northern Desert City.

”Jiumo Zhiyan, you are but a seventeen-year-old Heavenly Realm Martial Artist yourself. If not for that old dog Mu Tu by your side, I reckon you would have died in the chaotic battles long ago. Pretending to be an adult in front of me? Laughable!”

Ling Xiao’s mouth was naturally unforgiving as he couldn’t let the morale of Northern Desert City fall because of him.

”Hahaha, what a sharp tongue you have, but I won’t blame you for it. I’ve heard that you, Ling Xiao, came from Heavenly Dragon Continent to Divine Phoenix Continent and it seems the people of the Divine Phoenix Empire don’t welcome you. Since that’s the case, why not join the Black Crow Empire? I am willing to call you my brother and grant you a title, how about it?”

The words of Jiumo Zhiyan were indeed very potent.

If it were any ordinary person, hearing such words, their hearts might already be swayed.

However, after acquiring those new memories, Ling Xiao seemed as if he had already lived once before. Such bewildering and paltry tricks could not affect him.

”Hahaha, what a sharp tongue you have, but I won’t blame you for it either. I’ve heard of your wisdom, Jiumo Zhiyan, surpassing others, but you aren’t favored by your brothers, constantly being ostracized. At such a young age you had to come out to seek military achievements, with no one to feel sorry for you. Rather than that, why don’t you join my ranks? I can treat you like a brother and give you benefits beyond your imagination, how about it?”

Ling Xiao chose to treat others with their own methods.

”This kid is not easy to deal with, he actually investigated Little Prince’s situation. It seems that making him surrender won’t be easy,” commented Timmerman Muto with a smile.

”That’s true, but such a person is a pity to kill. If the Little Prince has him for support, and with the teachings of your old self, Master, how can we fear that our great cause will not be achieved?” sighed Jiumo Zhiyan finally.

Then, he lifted his head again to look at Ling Xiao and suddenly began to sing a loud battle song.

”Beacon fires rise, looking north from the rivers and mountains.

Dragon coils, horses neigh loudly, sword qi like frost.

Heart like the vast sea, waters endless.

Who can rival through the ages, in dominance and loss!

Hatred wants to rage, wherever the long sword points.

Countless faithful souls, buried bones in foreign lands.

Why spare a hundred deaths for the homeland.

Repressed sighs of regret, speechless, tears fill one’s eyes.

Horse hooves go south, people look north.

People look north, the grass green and yellow, dust flying.

I wish to defend this land and regain our territory!

Majestic Divine Phoenix demands from all corners...

To come celebrate!”

After a long moment, Jiumo Zhiyan was still immersed in his song.

”To create such a wondrous battle song, you indeed have talent. And I, Jiumo Zhiyan, invite you sincerely. I hope you don’t miss this great opportunity.”

Finally, he lifted his head to look at Ling Xiao, giving him one last chance.